Top 10 Best GPS Watches for Hiking in 2020 Reviews

April 13, 2020

Hiking is an excellent outdoor activity that provides people with fresh air, nice views, and amazing nature sounds. However, when going on a hike, accidents may occur. Still, you might even get lost on a new trail, get stranded and start thinking of how to get home. In such instances, it’s essential to have a GPS watch for hiking.

With a GPS watch, you can easily find your way out of any path, or should there be an emergency, you can be traced easily using your watch. Also, these watches are multifunctional, and you can even use the smartwatch to check messages.

Therefore, if you’re looking for an easy and effective way to navigate various terrains and keep track of essential data, it’s time to purchase a GPS watch. There’s no need to struggle with old-fashioned maps, notepads, and compasses when you can get these multifunctional accessories. To help you, here’s a comprehensive list of the top 10 best GPS watch for hiking in 2020

Check out the Best GPS Watches for Hiking Reviews

1. Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS, 38mm)

When you hear of Apple, you expect quality products and this GPS watch fits the bill. It comes with an optical heart sensor so that it can be used to monitor the heart rate, especially when exercising.

The aluminum case makes it sturdy and durable so that it can withstand a fall and not break or stop working. This watch also has a GPS tracker, and therefore it is not easy to lose and can also be used to track down a missing person.

With a digital crown and a dual-core processor, this watch is compelling and can be used for many functions. You can also add an app to the watch because it has a good processor, and it is waterproof so that you can swim comfortably while wearing it. As if that’s not enough, you can also receive and make calls, text messages, check Facebook, and many more.

The watch also helps you to stay connected since you can connect it to your cellphone and personalize it. It allows the user to add more apps that you might need based on your preferences and the type of data you want to receive.

This smartwatch has a battery life of up to 7 days. Besides, it features Bluetooth connectivity and is compatible with many cellphones, including the iPhone. The display is large enough, and you will not have to strain to see the screen in case you have a text on if you are running. You can use this watch to create your workout schedule too.

3. Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Running Watch

For a multifunctional GPS watch, look no further than Garmin Forerunner 35. The easy to use hiking/ running watch uses GPS to track how far or how fast you are running and estimates your heart rate day and night.

You will get all your daily activities monitored so that you can keep your heart rate up and know your stress levels. The watch is lightweight and waterproof so that you can use it while doing any activity that will make you sweat.

Besides, it can estimate steps, calories, and intensity so that you are reminded when to move and will automatically upload your data to the Garmin fitness community. In doing so, you can join challenges, receive discernments, and also share your progress with others so that you can get help and support to reach your goals.

4. Garmin Forerunner 235 Watch

Garmin never disappoints and they’ve come up with another high-end GPS watch. Featuring Connect IQ that allows you to custom the watch and download apps for free, this watch has a battery life of up to 11 hours and has an elevate the heart rate technology.

The forerunner 235 receives prompts from your connected smartphone and has a large screen, which is also sunlight visible. The smart notification will allow you to see text messages, call alerts, incoming emails, calendar reminders.

Still, there are customizable widgets, applications, and even watch faces with this smartwatch. You can track distance, pace, time, heart rate, and many more when you are hiking or running and share the results on social media.

5. Garmin Instinct GPS Watch

With a battery life of up to 14 hours, Garmin Instinct GPS Watch is designed to give you optimal service for long. It also has a silicone strap and also has a built-in three-axis compass and barometric altimeter.

The watch is a military standard 810G for thermal, shock, and water-resistant making it sturdy and durable. It will help you keep track of your heart rate and stress levels in more challenging environments and not just GPS.

This rugged outdoor smartwatch will automatically upload data to the Garmin community so that you can keep track of your fitness progress. You can use this watch when doing any activity, from hiking, running, to swimming since it is waterproof and can withstand harsh environments.

6. Garmin Foretrex 401 waterproof Watch

The Garmin Foretrex smartwatch has an easy to read display with a display resolution of 100 times 64 pixels and has a battery life of up to 17 hours in GPS mode. It helps to keep track of routes, tracks, waypoints, and the heart rate, and you can add on a heart rate monitor.

Featuring trip computer, sunrise and sunset times, and the watch can help you get hunting and fishing information. There is also an electric compass and a barometric altimeter so that it can be easy to trace your where about whenever you are.

The watch supports a dual position readout so that you can view the location in multiple formats. It will also help you in creating and storing routes to your preferred paces.

7. Garmin Forerunner 645 Music GPS Watch

With the ability to download up to 500 songs, this hiking watch can be connected to a Bluetooth headphone so that you can listen to music on your hike or run. The watch can also provide dynamics used with running and helps to monitor ground contact time balance, stride length, and many more.

You do not have to carry cash and cards anymore because this watch can help you make convenient payments since many banks support it. The battery lasts up to 7 days, and the watch also helps to evaluate your current training status and your performance based on your heart rate.

Also, you can use the Connect IQ store to customize this watch by downloading widgets, apps, and watch faces. The process is easy and you don’t have to pay anything to get your watch fully functioning.

8. ENACFIRE Smart Watch, W2 GPS

This smartwatch has a fitness tracker and tracks up to 17 exercises to help you avoid sports injuries. It is more efficient and accurate to subdivide the heart rate intervals, so you can always keep track of your data.

This watch will also give you advice on how to adjust the exercise intensity so that you can get more from your workouts. You can also receive notifications for calls, messages, emails, and more.

The sizeable colored touch screen and has been crafted using CNC stainless steel metal, making it durable and resistant. The wristband is friendly and interchangeable so that you can customize it, and the battery can last up to 7 days. It is also easy to download any app you want from the Google play store app.

9. TicWatch S2, Waterproof Smartwatch

Certified by the US military standard 810G, this smart hiking watch is perfect to use when you want to keep track of your heart rate and keep in touch with your wild side. The watch makes it possible for you to work out without your cellphone and helps you to stay motivated and track your health.

Also, it features an in-built GPS with 3 satellite systems. The feature will help you to navigate different terrains while cycling or running. You can keep performance with data like distance, steps, calories burned, and speed.

You will be able to see any notifications without pulling out your phone, and you can download and install any app you want so that you can stay in the moment. The watch is also waterproof so that you can use it whole swimming and accurately tracks your performance like steps, calories, distances, and more.

10. Garmin Forerunner 45, 42mm GPS Watch

This easy to use GPS hiking watch has a heart rate monitor and can be personalized so that you can have your training plans right on your wrist. It comes with several safety and tracking features like incident detection that enhance its performance.

Also, this watch will help you keep track of your pace, distance, intervals, and many more so that you can know your progress at all times when you are working out or hiking. As for the battery life, it can last for 7 days when used in the smartwatch mode.

It connects to your smartphone so that you can receive any notifications like emails, SMS, calls, and it automatically uploads your progress to the Garmin online community. You will also be able to play music paired from your smartphone and has a safety tracking feature that sends your location to your emergency contacts.

Conclusion

A GPS watch is a must-have accessory for any hiker as it gives them a lot of functionality that the regular watch cannot. You can easily track your heart rate and monitor your progress in case you are working out. You also do not need to take out your phone to read text messages and see who is calling so that you can see your notifications without stopping.

Having said that, the above review features the best GPS watches for hiking. Therefore, the next time you plan to go for a hiking expedition with friends, don’t hesitate to purchase any of these models.

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